Plug



Jan. 18, 1927.

L. C. TATE PLUG Filed Jan. 14, 1925 mil 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A/on e/ C Z9 0,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1,614,975 Jan. 18, 1927. L TATE v PLUG Filed Jan. 14,1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3/ I a #0 I 3 13 j L'one/ C 75/? INVENTOR Jan.18,1927. 4. 5

L. c TATE PLUG Filed Jan. 14, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 XNVENTOR WITNESS 5EATTORNEY Jan. 18, 1927.

v L. C. TATE PLUG Filed Jan. 14 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR A'IYORNEYWITNESS:

Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES LIONEL C. TATE, 0F NEWBURGH, INDIANA.

PLUG.

Application filed January This invention contemplates the provision of afuse plug, wherein use is made of a fuse holder designed to support aplurality of fuses adapted to be singly and automatically arranged in aposition for use, when a particular fuse is blown or impaired, theinvention accomplishing the desired result in such quick order that thelight will scarcely flicker.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision ofmeans for automatically limiting the movements of the fuse proper foruse, with a View of preventing all of the fuses on the holder from beingdestroyed by a trouble, other than the momentary increase in amperage,which trouble of course must be eliminated in the usual way.

More specifically stated, the invention aims to provide a fuse plugdesigned to replace the character of plug now used in light and powercircuits, and which plug makes use of a fuse holder mounted forrotation,

and designed to support a plurality of fuses to be used singly, meansbeing provided for automatically turning the holder to bring the neXtfuse in order into a position for use, after the particular fuse hasbeen destroyed by short circuit or an increase in amperage, while theinvention also embodies a means for locking the holder against movementafter a predetermined number of fuses has been used and impaired toafford ample time to correct the trouble without wasting the other fuseson the holder.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understoodwhen the following detailed description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part. of this application, like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views, and whereinFigure l is a view in elevation of the article forming the subjectmatter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 53 of Figure 2.

Figure a is an end elevation of the socket plug.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3, showing thenormal 14, 1925. Serial No. 2,406.

position of the fuse holder and the relation of the stop with the firstfuse to be used.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the initial position of the fuseholder when the first fuse is arranged in engagement with the said stop.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the cooperating parts of the fuseholder, showing the parts separated.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates generally the socketplug of ordinary well known construction which is threaded on the lowerend of the stem 11 as clearly shown in Figure 3. The plug 10 is providedwith the spaced contacts 12 at the end thereof, and which contacts areadapted to engage the contacts 13 carried by the fibre or insulated disk14. This disk is supported upon the stem 11 and has its undersiderecessed to receive the adjacent end of the socket plug 10 as shown inFig ure 3. Also supported upon the stem 11 adjacent the upper endthereof is a similar disk 15. These disks are formed with grooves 16 toreceive the adjacent ends of a hollow tubular member 17 constituting thebody of the casing or enclosure in which the fuse holder is arranged,this casing being preferably constructed of mica or the like.

Arranged within the casing 17 and reposing upon the lower disk 14thereof is an annulus 18 of metal, clearly shown in Figure 7, and whichannulus is secured to the disk 17 by suitable fastening elements 19passed through apertured lugs or ears 20 forming part of the annulus.This annulus is formed with one of the contacts 13 reposing on the disk14?, to provide an electrical connection between one of the contacts 12of the plug 10 and said annulus 18 as will be readily understood. Theannulus 18 is split to provide a resilient portion 21, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter described, and from which portion projects anapertured car 22. This annulus is also provided with a resilient contactportion 23 which is adapted to be engaged by a me tallic disk 2% mountedupon the stem 11 for rotation thereon. This metallic disk 24: is thuselectrically connected with the plug 10 through the instrumentality ofthe resilient contact 23 above mentioned, while adapted to repose uponthe metallic disk 24 are headed fastening elements 25 utilized to securethe metallic disk 26 to the bottom of the spool 27 constituting the fuseholder above referred to. The fuse holder is mounted for rotation uponthe stem 11 as clearly shown in Figure The lower end of the spool beingprovided with openings for the reception oi the fuse wires 28, while thecorresponding upper ends of these wires or fuses are adapted to bereceived by semicylindrical members 29. depending from the upper end ofthe spool as clearly shown in Figure 7. ilpon reference to Figure 3, itwill be noted that upon the disk Ll forming part of the casi in whichthe movable parts are arranged, is an upright standard 230, and carriedby the upper end oi this standard is a right angularly disposed pivotedstop 31 adapted to project in this space between the adjacent fuse wires28 as clearly shown in Figure 3. Now, when one oi these wires isarranged in contacting engagement with the stop 31, the current passesthrough the plug into one ot the contacts 1 3, which contact engages theannulus 18. through which the current passes into the metallic disk 24;,and thence to the metallic disk 26 which is arranged upon the bottom ofthe spool 27 and held associated therewith by the metallic headedelements 25, the latter imposing upon the disk 24: for this purpose. Thecurrent then passes through the particular fuse wire 28 being usedthrough the stop 31, and thence through the post or upright 30 to theother contact 13 carried by the dish 14-, which contact engages theadjacent contact 12 ot the plug 10 returning the current through theplug as will be readily understood.

As above stated. it is the purpose of this invention to automaticallyarrange the fuse wires 28 in contacting engagement with the stop 31, tocomplete the circuit. when the particular fuse wire being used hasbecome impaired troni any cause whatsoever. To accomplish this object.both the disk ill and the tuse holder 2. are mounted for rotation uponthe stem 11, and are adapted to rotate in unison being" connected torthis purpose by means of the lllfj, 32 carried by the fuse holder. andwhich lug: is adapted to be received by an opening termed in the diskThe disk 2%; is connected with one end of a spring:' 35 which is coiledabout the stem 11. and has its other enl connected in any suitablemanner with the disk ll. this end being indicated at 36 and pre erablyarranged within the opening; 37 clearly shown in Figue T. This disk 24-is splitas at :18, and a portion oi? the dish bent downwardly to projectbeneath the lower surface of the (isl: to form an abutment 39, therebeing preferably three of these abutment-s equi-distantly spaced fromeach other as shown in Figure 7. These abutments 39 are adapted tocoopente with the resilient stop 21 hereinabove referred to as formingpart of the annulus 18. Rising from the apcrturcd ear 22 which projectsfrom the resilient stop 21 is a rod 10, this rod being associated with ahollow sleeve like member ll arranged to slide within an opening formedin the disk 15 forming the top of the casing above referred to, whicharrangement or" parts is illustrated in Figure This rod 40 is utilizedto depress the resili ent stop 21 for moving it out of the path of theadjacent abutment 39 as the occasion might require.

In practice the fuse wires or tuses are arranged upon the holder orspool '27 in the manner clear y qnown in Figure '7. and the spoolmounted upon the steml i. is then turned in clock-wise direction uponthe stem it to place the spring 35 under tension. the spool beinglimited in its more ment in this direction by a lug" projech inp; fromthe periphery ot the disk it comingin contact with the pin l3 risingfrom the disk 14:. hen the holder has been turned the lim t of itsmovement tor the purpose just stated, the resilient stop :21 engages oneof the abutments 39, thus holding the dish together with the spool orfuse holder 27 against retrograde movement under the influence ot thespring; 35. A pivoted stop 31. carried by the post. or upright 30 isthen swung to its active position in the space between two adjacentfuses 28. this beinLZ the normal position of the post clearly shown inFigure The device in its entirety is then placed in the tuse box byscrewing the plug 11) to its socket, after which the rod 40 is depressedto more the stop 21 away from the adjacent abutment 30 thus allowing thespring 33 to turn the holder QT the requisite distance in order tobrinethe adjacent use in to contacting: e1 gcinent with the stop 31 andthus complete ihe cir cuit. The parts rel .ain in this pos tion as longas the particular lusc or w re 2 is susceptiliile of use. but just assoon a the particular tuse is blown or iu'ipaircd hryond turthe use byincreasing the aniperae e or what not. the spring 35 lunctions to rotatethe holder the requisite distance to bring: the next fuse in order intocontact ng" engagement with the stop Iii. thus again coniplctiugi thecircuit wh ch ot course has hceu broken hy d trimeu to the {use abovementioned. This o 'ierat eu ialceplace soiupirlly that the nextparticular tuse is broraht Int use with scarrel -c a flicke of thelight. it i: ot course to be undorst ed that the tusc holder can beconstructed to .c ounnodatc any number oi fuses. this o course dependingupon the size ot the plug.

Now, in order to prevent the blowing of one fuse right after anotheruntil all ot' the fuses on the holder have been destroyed which wouldor" course occur in case there was a short in the light, I make use ofthe resilient stop :31 and the cooperating abut- The spool 51% iuu ment39 for-min part of the metallic disk 24. Consequently the destruction ofa number of fuses in this manner, would give evidence of the fact thatthere is a short in the light or other trouble which must be remediedimmediately, and therefore the rotation of the fuse holder 27 isprohibited when the next abutment 39 011 the disk is brought intoengagement with the stop 21. In other words, after the stop 21 has beeninitially depressed to allow the first fuse in order to contactthe stop31, moving from its normal position shown in Figure 5, to its initialposition shown in Figure 6, the resilient stop 21 resumes its normalposition, that is immediately beneath the disk 24:. So if theabutnien'ts 39 are spaced four fuses apart, four and only four fuses canbe blown in successsive order before the holder would be checked in. itsmovement by the next abutment 39 contacting the stop 21. The plug couldthen be removed until the trouble is remedied after which the plug isagain arranged in the socket, and the rod 40 depressed to release theholder for further operation. In this connection it might be stated thatthe abut ments 39 can be spaced any particular distance apart, so thatthe holder would look after every one. two, three or four fuses areused, or after any number of fuses have been used in the mannermentioned, this depending upon the discretion of the user or nanufacturer. It is manifest that the disk 15 can be easily removed fromthe casing, to allow the holder 27 to be subsequently removed for thepurpose of replacing the fuse from time to time as the occasion mayrequire. The size of the instrument in its entirety will of course bedetermined according to the line with which it is to be used, it beingobvious that a line with a high current requires a large instrument andheavier fuse wire. However, the article in its entirety is very simplein construction and can be manufactured and sold at a very low cost, theworking parts being visible while the automatic repeating action for thepurpose of bringing the new fuse into use is particularly meritoriousover fuse plugs in present day use.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I

desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what isherein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted towhen desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A fuse plug of the character described comprising a casing, spacedcontacts arranged therein, a metallic disk electrically connected withone of said contacts, and including a resilient contact and a resilientstop, a fuse holder comprising a stem mounted within the casing, aplurality of independent fuses supported on said holder, a stop contactadapted to be singly engaged by said fuses to complete the circuitthrough the other of the said spaced contacts arranged within thecasing, means for automatically turning the holder step by step, tobring each fuse into engagement with said stop after the preceding fusehas become impaired beyond further use, and means carried by the stemand cooperating with said resilient stop to automatically lock theholdor against further movement at predetermined intervals.

2. A fuse plug of the character described comprising a casing, spacedcontacts arranged therein, a metallic disk disposed within the casingand electrically connected with one of said contacts, said diskincluding a resilient contact, and a resilient stop, a fuse holderincluding a stem mounted within the casing, a plurality of independentfuses supported on said holder, a stop contact electrically connectedwith the other of said spaced contacts, and arranged to be singlyengaged by said fuses to complete the circuit, means for automaticallyturning the holder step by step to bring each fuse into engagement withsaid step contact after the preceding fuse has become impaired, ametallic disk carried on said stem and constantly engaged by theresilient contact of said disk, means carried by the disk on said stemand cooperating with said resilient stop to automatically lock theholder against r0- tation at predetermined intervals, and manuallyoperable means for releasing the holder for further operation whendesired.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LIONEL CLARENCE TATE.

